"In Iowa, young people are leaving the state in droves
and this begs the question of the relevance and longer term viability of Iowa
in the national debate."
On
the dust cover of The Audacity to Win by David Plouffe, it says,
“Plouffe was not just the architect of the campaign that put Barack Obama in
the White House; he also built a grassroots movement that changed the face of
politics forever and re-energized the idea of democracy itself.” A bit self
serving on the part of the publisher, Viking Penguin, but of course it would
be. If
the campaign Plouffe organized changed the face of politics, the citizenry does
not like the way it looks, especially the partisan visage we see on the 111th
Congress and the President’s inability to pass many of his major initiatives
during his first year in office.
Regardless of what happened during the run up to the
2008 Presidential Election, a grassroots movement, by its nature, can seldom be
replicated in the same way or with the same energy. This is not to denigrate
the work Plouffe and the legions of staff and volunteers did, but to say that
campaigns are the stuff of dreams, woven in delicate silk mixed with coarse
jute fibers. The utility of such cloth is of short duration.
In the Iowa precinct where I live, the coalition we
built for the 2008 election included people of every demographic and every
political viewpoint. We could see the harm being done by the previous
administration and a dysfunctional congress. It was time to “take back our
government.” Having done that, we figuratively turned over the keys on inauguration
day and did not look back. We elected the president and congress and after the
election, expected them to govern. Most of us have a life outside of partisan
politics.
It is unlikely this same coalition will come together
again in 2012 and more certainly, not in this year’s midterm elections. A
grassroots organization is always changing and political campaigns are
notoriously different, one from the other. Conservatives where I live have
woken up and are saying the same thing we did, “it’s time to take our
government back.” The next two election cycles will be challenging for
those of us in the party in power, in the same way the opposition was
challenged in 2008.
For people who grew up in the 1950s and 1960s, we
wonder how many more times we can engage in these campaigns. A friend of mine
wrote in an e-mail, “My own personal perspective, however, is that after
spending decades of of my life fighting for environmental/political/social
progress, including rising again and again from the coals after temporary
'burn-outs', I honestly have reached the end-of-my-rope regarding the
battles and no longer care to expend time or energy doing so further.” This
view is not uncommon in my cohort. Many of us will fire up the boiler again,
yet there is a constraint on the degree to which we can continue to be active
in campaigns. Likewise, the older we get, the more it is not about us.
In Iowa, young people are leaving the state in droves
and this begs the question of the relevance and longer term viability of Iowa
in the national debate. Iowans value the millions of dollars spent in the state
as each presidential cycle unfolds. Being first in the nation presents an
opportunity for those campaign dollars to be spent here and it is one place
where the two major political parties agree. Too, Iowa continues to be an
active participant in shaping national policy. When we consider the national
discussion on health care reform, we can see how Iowans helped shape policy
among the candidates in 2007, and ultimately in Washington in the 111th
Congress. If Iowa does not engage our sons and daughters enough for them to
stay in the state, Iowa may lose its relevancy and the continuing opportunity
to shape the national debate.
When I think of David Plouffe and the work he did, I
also think of James Carville and his role during the first campaign of Bill
Clinton. While once considered to be brilliant, with time, Carville has become
a craggy and irrelevant talking head on networks that no longer engage us. I
hope this is not Plouffe’s fate.
Let’s hope children born in the 1980s and after do not
cling to the excitement of the 2008 election cycle, but learn from it, let go and
continue to engage in local and national politics. Many of the
twenty-somethings I know have already done this and are waiting for us to catch
up. All we can do is say we are trying.
"If we care about sustainability and energy
independence, we should urge our elected officials in Des Moines to vote no on
SF464."
Once a year I try to get to Des Moines to visit my elected
officials in the legislature. As a citizen, my interests are many, and I lack
confidence that third parties can represent my interests as well as I can do it
myself. This is a native American impulse and the scourge of organized
religion, labor unions, trade associations and community organizing groups. If
everyone felt this way, and participated in our democracy directly, we would
have less need for third parties and our government would be much more
representative of the people. If you want to read more about my experience in
Des Moines, check out my blog, Big
Grove Garden.
Iowa lawmakers will be considering SF464 this session, a
bill that would require, among other things, a five percent blend of B5
biodiesel to be sold at all diesel fuel outlets in Iowa. The preamble to the bill
seems simple enough, “An Act relating to motor fuel, by providing for a
biodiesel quality standard for energy security andsustainability,ethanol blended gasoline and biodiesel blended fueldesignations
and tax credits, penalties, and effective dates.” Already the powerful
interests are lining up on this one.
One thing about the Iowa legislature is that they provide
a list of all of the lobbyists and where they stand on specific bills. I
met Steve Falck who represents Renewable Energy Group, a registered biodiesel
industry lobbyist, and supporter of SF464. He seemed well versed on many of the
issues pro and con on this bill and was enthusiastic about its prospects. According
to Falck, the largest buyers of biodiesel in the state are truckstop operators and
they are against the bill. They don’t like mandates.
Falck gave me a copy of a letter dated December 10, 2009
from the American Lung Association supporting the bill, which asserted, “the
average diesel school bus emits nearly twice as much pollution per mile than a
big rig truck, and the type of pollution they emit is particularly harmful to
children, who have a higher respiration rate than adults, and immune systems
that are not fully developed.” He also indicated that Iowa becoming energy
independent was a national security issue and this bill would help keep dollars
in Iowa that are currently going to oil producing nations. He had a couple of
cogent talking points, which he had obviously rehearsed. If I didn’t know
better, I would have thought he was trying to scare me into supporting the
bill, talking about children and national security that way.
The American Lung Association letter was somewhat deceptive
with its focus on school buses. Their facts seem accurate, and using
pollution-reducing fuels in school buses is a no-brainer from a health of
children standpoint. As far as school buses are concerned, why not compressed
natural gas as an alternative to both diesel and bio-diesel? This is what other
communities are doing to control emissions, especially in urban centers. For
that matter, why a 5% blend in school buses instead of 100% bio-fuels if we want
a bio-fuels mandate? Another question is if school buses are to be a focus, then
why implement a legislative mandate when the same result could be achieved
through other administrative channels without it? The answer is it’s about the
biofuels industry and their lobbyists in Des Moines like Mr. Falck.
SF464 is a corruption of what it means to seek energy
independence for Iowa and to be sustainable. The most significant thing the
Iowa legislature could do to help move towards energy independence would be to
find ways to produce electricity with non-food fuel stocks. To a large extent,
this means stopping the flow of dollars out of the state to buy coal from the
Powder River Basin of Wyoming. It also means supporting development of enzymes
that can metabolize non-food plant products like corn stover to produce
cellulosic ethanol. What appears to be
foremost in the biofuels industry is locking in their sales through legislative
mandate by passing SF464. If we care about sustainability and energy
independence, we should urge our elected officials in Des Moines to vote no on
SF464.
Here is a link
to find your legislator. Please let them know how you feel about SF464.
Report on SEIU/Change That Works Health Care Affordability Summit By Caroline Vernon
Washington, DC - On January 13th, SEIU/Change That Works and health care reform coalition partners mobilized labor members and health care advocates from across the country for a national day of action, calling on legislators to adopt 3 essential aspects of the House & Senate bills; The 3 A’s:Affordability, Accessibility, and Accountability.
Before a crowd of 150, many pro-reform legislators spoke passionately about the need to make health care more affordable, as the conference committee decides the fate of meaningful health care legislation.
Everyone in attendance agreed, our #1 priority should be making real reform affordable for working families and setting premiums and out-of-pocket costs at levels that are fair and reasonable. Adequate subsidies are seen to be essential to the fundamental goal of guaranteeing quality affordable health care to all Americans. SEIU and coalition partners, PICO, Families USA, and other community groups called on legislators and the Obama administration to adopt the following 5 components of the House & Senate bills:
• The safety net for the most vulnerable in our communities is stronger in the House through an expansion of Medicaid to those making 150% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) or less. • The House bill offers lower premiums and caps out-of pocket costs at levels that lower income families earning less than 250% of the FPL (less than $41,000 for a family of 3) can better afford. • The Senate bill makes care more affordable for families who are between 250% and 400% of the FPL. • The House surtax impacting only the wealthiest Americans, is more favorable than the Senate’s excise tax that would adversely impact millions of middle class families, resulting in benefit cuts, increasing premiums and out-of-pocket expenses. • The House approach to ensuring employers share responsibility and contribute to the coverage of part time workers. If not, employers will have a strong incentive to reduce the number of hours for full time workers so they are not penalized for not offering coverage – there must be accountability.
Reformers also advocated on behalf of seniors having expanded access to affordable medications by closing the gap or “doughnut hole” in Medicare prescription drug coverage.
Overall, the House bill makes coverage much more affordable for working families. To give you an example of the difference, a single worker earning only $17,500 per year will pay 16% of their annual income for health insurance ($2,801) under the Senate bill, while paying only 8% ($1,416) of their annual income for insurance under the House bill – a very substantial difference. Additionally, under provisions found in the Senate bill, a low income family of 3 that earns $41,000 a year would pay an annual average of $7,000 or 17% of their annual income on healthcare; $2,134 more than under the House bill. The same family could pay a maximum of $9,000 a year on healthcare; $2,175 more than the maximum under HR 3962.
SEIU members who were interviewed during the day of national action spoke about why they and their families need affordable, comprehensive coverage as a part of reform. Their personal accounts are truly moving. Watch it here.
Some of the Congressmen and women who spoke at the Health Care Affordability Summit included, Congressman Ensign from New York, Donna Edwards from Maryland, Christopher Murphy and Rosa DeLauro from Connecticut, and Congressman Dingle from Michigan who put the fight for health care justice in historical perspective by reminding us, the fight to enact Social Security and Medicare in this country was as intense and controversial as our current struggle to pass meaningful health care reform legislation in 2010. Congressman Dingle, has been a member of Congress for 54 years.
After the summit, advocates lobbied their members of congress on affordability. SEIU Iowa President, Cathy Glasson, and I had an opportunity to meet with Congressmen Loebsack and Braley who both said they were in agreement and supported adopting the 5 key components we had outlined from the House and Senate bills that would make health care more affordable. Both Congressmen indicated they had met with President Obama just the day before to discuss compromises in the House and Senate bills. When we addressed the issue of favoring the House surtax over the Senate’s excise tax as a funding mechanism, both congressmen expressed disappointment that the president was “bent” on adopting the Senate’s version which would place the burden on working families rather than the wealthiest Americans. As you may recall, this is NOT what Obama campaigned on. Since our visit, we know organized labor has fought for acceptable compromises which would tax cadillac plans costing over $8,900 rather than $8,000 as outlined in the Senate bill.
I also addressed the need to fix the 2 year waiting list for individuals who qualify for Social Security Disability with our Iowa congressmen. As it stands today, recipients are told they must wait 2 years before becoming eligible for Medicare. This is nothing short of cruel. Why would anyone deny disabled individuals access to healthcare? I have to wonder, what was Congress thinking? Why would anyone intentionally withhold health care from people who have met all the many difficult requirements to demonstrate they have a serious medical need which resulted in disability? Is it their hope that folks will just die off or what? Do they not understand what kind of impact this has on people’s lives or the amount of damage that can ensue if a chronic condition goes untreated for 2 years? Neither the House or Senate bill addresses this issue. I ask you to please raise your voice and advocate on behalf of these individuals who arguably have the greatest need for care.
Congressman Braley also shared with us his concerns that pro-reform advocates have not countered the “tea baggers” or anti-reform protestors who he and others see everyday on the steps of the Capitol and outside House and Senate offices. Unfortunately, they also garner ALL of the media’s attention, since there is no “visual” pro-reform presence on the Hill. Congressman Braley expressed frustration over the fact that progressives and pro-reform advocates have not mobilized a massive demonstration and show of support for health care reform, countering anti-reformer claims that they are in the majority.
I know there are so many of you who have worked long and hard on meaningful health care reform but NOW is the time to step up the pressure on our elected leaders and hold them to their word -- that includes President Obama. I believe it is also long past time to demonstrate a massive show of support for our elected leaders who continue to work hard for health care reform on behalf of ALL Americans.
I call on organized labor, people of faith, community groups, grassroots organizations, and all other health care advocates to come together and organize/mobilize a Health Care for All March on Washington this Spring; if meaningful legislation is already passed, we can thank our leaders for making it happen, if not, we can address what we need in order to ensure meaningful health care reform. Either way, it’s a win-win and an opportunity to show media pundits and the American people that WE ARE the majority of Americans who overwhelmingly voted for CHANGE in November of 2008. So far, it’s been politics as usual. We need a change we really can believe in…
What do we need? HEALTH CARE! When do we need it? NOW!!!
Back when dinosaurs roamed the earth, I was a young mother. I (like lots of Baby Boomers) was a rebellious mother and did such subversive things as nursed my daughter and made my own baby food. I was a radical. I found highly processed baby food and childrens' cereals unacceptable for my growing daughter.
But when we complained about high salt and sugar levels in baby food - the companies changed. And although, I still encourage mothers to make their own baby food - at least, the options are much much better than they were 30 years ago.
Thirty years ago .... we didn't talk much about nutrition. The slogan of the day was "Better Living through Chemistry". We thought the food industry had our best interest at heart. After all, we were certain Betty really did make all those cake mixes.
But there were people that spoke about nutrition and the connections between feeding our family and health issues. One of my "go-to" authors was a wise, well-balanced mother named Vicki Lansky. Lansky wrote the book "The Taming of the C.A.N.D.Y.* Monster"
I was shocked as a young mom to see breakfast cereals on the grocery store shelves that contained over 25% sugar. Not one - not two - but over and over again. According to Lansky and the Journal of Dentistry for Children in 1974 - Cap'n Crunch contained 43.3% sucrose content. Trix, Froot Loops and Honeycomb were all over 46% sugar. And Lucky Charms and Apple Jacks were 50 and 55% sugar.
It was with that knowledge I suddenly became the meanest mother alive and limited my daughter to 5 cereals - Shredded Wheat, Cheerios, Corn Flakes, Raisin Bran and Rice Krispies which had 10% sugar content. I thought I was being generous with that one!
If the name contained the word "frosted" "coco" or "super" - it wasn't coming home with me! Cuz as soon as I served it for breakfast, I would have a "souped-up" two-year-old on my hands. And let's not even talk about a cereal that was inspired by a toy or the Saturday morning television line-up!!!!
So I hit the grocery store and the cereal aisle to see how things have changed in the last 30 years.
As that very Daughter would say .... Not so much, Mom!!!!
I checked out the nutritional information for Froot Loops. Froot Loops had been named a Smart Choice cereal due to the addition of fiber. Fortunately, the FDA may be coming to their senses. Remember in 1974, the Journal of Dentistry for Children stated that they contained 47.4% sugar? Ok - calorie count doesn't look too bad. 110 calories for a 1 cup serving.... but then go down to the sugar content. 12 grams. Hmmmm?
This is where it gets tough for the average American. Teaspoons... I understand. Calories .... I understand. Grams ... Not so much!!!
Well - here's the scoop. There is 4.2 grams in a teaspoon of sugar. So 12 grams of sugar is the equivalent of 1 tablespoon of sugar. And one tablespoon of sugar is 46 calories.
So in that 110 calories of Froot Loops, there are10 calories from fat and 46 calories from sugar.
Let's compare that to cereals directed at adults. Let's look at my personal favorite ... Cheerios. Cheerios is being marketed to adults to help lower cholesterol levels because of its soluble oat fiber.
A 1 cup serving of Cheerios has 110 calories ... 15 calories come from fat and 6 come from sugar.
What can you do?? First of all, you can take control of the shopping cart and avoid buying overly-sweetened cereals. Speak with your dollars.... look for cereals that have 5 or less grams of sugar. And don't be fooled by fancy labeling on the front of the box. Learn to read those labels and understand what they mean.
And write your Congressman demanding clear and concise labeling that show the calories from sugar in all foods. We have fat calories clearly listed..... it is time to have sugar calories listed.
It is a new day. Let's start it right.
Cathy Lafrenz is a regular contributor for Blog for Iowa on the topic of food. She serves on the board of the Quad-Cities chapter of Buy Fresh-Buy Local. She raises hens for egg production and is Animal Welfare Approved. In
her spare time she advocates for health care reform, spins yarn, and
knits every pair of socks she wears. Check out her blog, Miss Effie's Diary
2009 QC Earth Charter Summit Building a Local Foods MovementBy Caroline Vernon
You’re invited to attend!
The 2009 Quad Cities Earth Charter Summit “Building a Local Foods Movement”
Saturday, September 26, 2009, 9am-3pm Augustana College - Wallenberg Hall
Local Food is the theme of the 2009 Earth Charter Summit, focusing on PACG’s Local Foods Initiative - Our goal is to promote and assist in the development of a healthy, sustainable, local food supply for our region, emphasizing sustainable agricultural practices.
The summit will include local and regional speakers and informative workshops focusing on our effort to develop a working partnership between individual citizens and those working within an institutional framework. There are opportunities for everyone on every level to become involved in the Healthy, Local Foods movement. People in communities all across our country, and in the world, are mobilizing around this effort.
Workshops include:
· Community Gardens · Local Food Coop · Farm to Cafeteria · The Economics of a Local Food Supply · Information for Food Services, Municipalities, & Legislators · Reducing the Carbon Footprint of our Diet · The Importance of SEEDS in a local Foods movement
Keynote Speaker:
Kamyar Enshayan Director, University of Northern Iowa Center of Energy and Environmental Education
Enshayan launched Buy Fresh, Buy Local in Iowa and worked with Iowa communities to start chapters. Recipient of the 2008 Sustainable Agriculture Achievement Award from Practical farmers of Iowa.
Augustana’s Food Service will be providing a delicious, healthy, local foods lunch!
Cost to attend the Summit is only $10 /$5 for students—scholarships are available
REGISTER TODAY!—Through our website: qcprogressiveaction.org or Call PACG at 563-676-7580, or REGISTER at the door!
Never Too Young to be an Activist: How Your Kids Can Help Save the World by Linda Thieman,Katie & Kimble Blog
If you've read Katie & Kimble: A Ghost Story, you know that Katie is the kind of girl who likes to HELP people and animals (um, and ghosts!). Now, here are three ways that YOU can help people and animals, too.
It's fun and it's important.
And you can learn great things at the same time!
1) A 12-year-old girl named Mimi Ausland from Oregon started a website called FreeKibble.com.
Kibble means pieces of dog or cat food. Every day, Mimi adds a new Bow Wow
Trivia question about dogs. If you answer the question
(correctly or not), Mimi will donate 10 pieces of kibble to dogs who
live in shelters. This really adds up! Mimi has provided dogs with
thousands and thousands of pounds of dog food. That must be very heavy
to carry!
2) Mimi also started a site to help feed cats. So if you go to the FreeKibbleKat.com website and answer the Meow Trivia question every day, Mimi will donate 10 pieces of kibble for cats!
3) The third way that you can help is found at FreeRice.com.
Here, if you answer questions correctly, FreeRice will donate 20 grains
of rice to a hungry person for each question you answer. This can add
up quickly, because you can keep answering questions as long as you
want.
FreeRice has all kinds of questions. You can start at the
lowest level and build your English vocabulary. Or you can do the same
thing in other languages, too, like Spanish and French.
They
also have questions about art and famous artists, where you get to look
at famous pictures. You can also look at maps to answer questions
about countries and world capitals. And you can practice your
math and multiplication tables and earn rice for hungry people at the same
time! You also get to keep track of how much rice you've donated.
So, have fun, learn things, and help dogs, cats and people! Here's to saving the world!
KIDS CO-OP DAYCAMPS OFFERED IN FOUR IOWA COMMUNITIES THIS SUMMER By the IFU
Children ages 7 through 11 can increase their skills in co-operation and interpersonal communication through fun games and crafts at Kids Co-op Day Camps offered in four Iowa communities in June and July. The camps are sponsored by Iowa Farmers Union Education Foundation with funding from CHS Foundation. The half-day camps include crafts, games, activities and discussion on the theme of cooperation. Children will learn about the history of co-op business, learn in an entertaining way about interpersonal communication and cooperation skills, and find out which agricultural products go into their favorite foods. This is the fifth year weve offered these camps, and they have become very popular, said Leigh Adcock, Iowa Farmers Union education director. The kids learn new things, have a great time, and go home with lots of information and goodies. Group size is limited, so parents must pre-register the children by calling 800-775-5227. The day camps are free of charge, but kids need to bring a non-perishable sack lunch. The camp dates and locations for 2007 are: Tuesday, June 19 Clarion Public Library Wednesday, June 27 Oelwein Public Library (full) Monday, July 2 Gutekunst Public Library, State Center Friday, July 6 Winterset Public Library For more information visit www.iafu.org or call 800-775-5227. The Iowa Farmers Union Education Foundation (IFUEF) was formed in 1999 with a 501(c)3 status to help meet increased needs for education among farmers, rural residents, and consumers. Its mission statement is: To promote a viable system of sustainable agriculture and high quality of life in rural communities through education of farmers, rural residents, and urban consumers; cooperation among farmers; and community activism.
Iowa Farmers Union PO Box 8988 528 Billy Sunday Rd Ames, IA 50014 800-775-5227 iafu@isunet.net www.iafu.org
*IBLTV is a group of citizens from the Iowa City/Cedar Rapids area who are concerned about the decline in the quality of local television. Fight local media consolidation, as it leads to an unaccountable medium that enriches itself while disregarding the need to serve the public good.
*The rational counter to 'The Point,' 'The Counterpoint' critiques and corrects the daily editorial by Sinclair Broadcasting's corporate vice president, Mark Hyman, that is broadcast on all Sinclair-owned television stations across the country
by Paul Deaton
by Cathy Lafrenz 
